Japanese Awa Coral

Off the coast of Suo-Oshima, there is a colony of Japanese Awa Coral that is said to be one of the largest in Japan. Tours to observe from the sea in a clear kayak and snorkeling tours to observe up close are popular. It is a very valuable experience to be able to see natural Japanese Awa Coral.

Katazoegahama Beach

The crystal clear water, palm trees, and white sand give off the atmosphere of a tropical resort. It is also affectionately known as "Banana Beach" due to the shape of the sand, and is also famous as a spot for swimming, fishing, and other marine sports.

SUP/Paddling/Kayaking

Suo-Oshima, floating in the calm Seto Inland Sea, is the perfect place to try out SUP, paddling, and sea kayaking. You can try out a two-hour cruise recommended for beginners, a long tour that takes you to enjoy the ocean around the island for a whole day, or a sunset tour.

* For reference only

Finless Porpoise Cruising

The area around Maejima, about 6km offshore from Suo-Ohashi Bridge, is home to more than 100 finless porpoises. The chances of encountering finless porpoises are high from May to October, and the regular ferry route between Suo-Oshima and Maejima is popularly known as the "Finless Porpoise Cruising."

* For reference only

Fishing

Surrounded by beautiful seas, Suo-Oshima is also a popular fishing spot, and you can enjoy fishing throughout the year, from casting for red sea bream in spring and Japanese sillago in summer, lure fishing and night fishing in autumn, to searching for bottom fish in winter.

Hiking in the Setouchi Alps

The four mountains of Mount Monju, Mount Kano, Mount Genmyo, and Mount Taku are affectionately known as the "Setouchi Alps." Each mountain is 600m high and can be hiked in a day, and is perfect for hiking as you can feel close to nature in every season and enjoy beautiful scenery.

* For reference only

Island Cycling

Suo-Oshima is a great place for cycling, with cycling bases at roadside stations and surrounding facilities. Take a leisurely tour of the island, stopping at spots that interest you while admiring the stunning scenery of the crystal clear sea and lush green mountains.

Nagisa Aquarium

The aquarium exhibits mainly marine creatures collected locally by keepers and fish caught by fishermen in nearby waters. Highlights include one of the largest “touching pools” in Japan, where visitors can enter the pool barefoot and touch sea cucumbers, starfish, and ameflagellates.

Sazan Seto Touwa Roadside Station

It is equipped with a product hall with agricultural products grown in the rich natural environment, such as Oshima mandarin oranges, and fresh seafood caught in the Seto Inland Sea, as well as a restaurant that uses local ingredients. Shops selling honey, gelato, Hawaiian goods, and more are also popular.

* For reference only

Fruit Picking (Strawberries)Spring

The season varies depending on the farm, but you can enjoy strawberry picking from January to May. You can choose a plan that suits you, such as an all-you-can-eat strawberry plan or a light plan where you can enjoy only what you pick without time restrictions.

Kawazu Cherry Blossoms Gojo no SenbonzakuraSpring

A row of about 450 cherry trees line the 5km coastline from Katasoe-ga-hama to Okikamuro, making it one of the best cherry blossom spots on the island. It becomes crowded with many people from late March to early April when Somei-yoshino and Yamazakura are in full bloom.

About 5 minutes by car from our hotel

Map

Island PilgrimageSpring

The pilgrimage to the 88 temples on Suo-Oshima Island, called the Island Pilgrimage, is a pilgrimage that goes around the island in a clockwise direction from Oshima Bridge. The beauty of the Seto Inland Sea and the traditional landscape of Suo-Oshima Road will welcome you.

It takes about 30 minutes by car from our hotel to Oshima Bridge.

Map

* For reference only

Fruit picking (blueberries, etc.)Summer

You can pick blueberries from mid-July to late August, pick grapes such as Pione and Suiho from August to September, and pick peaches in August. Don't miss out on picking seasonal fruits grown in the pure nature.

Suo-Oshima Fireworks FestivalSummer

A summer tradition held at Tachibana Green Park every August 16th. Along with a fireworks display with about 4,000 fireworks that beautifully colors the night sky, lantern floating and Bon Odori are also held. It is so popular that many people from outside the island flock to see the fireworks.

Tachibana Green Park is about 15 minutes by car from our hotel.

Map

Saturday HulaSummer

An event where hula dance is performed all over the island every Saturday from mid-July to late August during the summer vacation period. This summer festival symbolizes Suo-Oshima, which has a deep connection with Hawaii, with many people moving there, and is famous as the "Hawaii of the Seto Inland Sea."

* For reference only

Mandarin orange pickingAutumn

Suo-Oshima is known as the "mandarin orange island," with mandarin oranges accounting for about 80% of Yamaguchi Prefecture's production. From early October to mid-December, you can enjoy mandarin orange picking at about five farms scattered around the island.

Chestnut tiger butterfly come flyingAutumn

The chestnut tiger butterfly is the only migratory butterfly in Japan that crosses the sea. It can often be seen flying around in October. The chestnut tiger butterfly garden at the former Isokane residence overlooks the Seto Inland Sea, and is home to about 1,000 Fujibakama plants, which the Chestnut tiger butterfly loves, attracting the migrating butterflies.

The chestnut tiger butterfly garden is about a 10-minute drive from the hotel.

Map

Obiishi Kannon

Autumn leaves(Obiishi Kannon and Monjudo)Autumn

The recommended season for admiring the autumn leaves on Suo-Oshima is around mid-November. Monjudo and Mount Monju, where the Japanese maples and ginkgo trees take on beautiful autumn colors, and Obiishi Kannon, where the maples add color to the temple grounds, are famous spots for viewing autumn leaves.

* For reference only

Mikan NabeWinter

Mikan Nabe is a hot pot made by simmering whole grilled mandarins from Suo-Oshima, mandarin rice balls, Seto shellfish, seafood, and local fish balls with mandarin pepper and green chili peppers. It is a classic to finish the meal with mandarin rice porridge topped with fluffy meringue.

Katazoegahama Onsen Yuyu Land

Shioyu Onsen TourWinter

Suo-Oshima has three day-trip hot spring facilities: Ryuzaki Onsen, Yuyu Land, and Shioburo Hoyokan. You can enjoy the view of nature such as the sea and greenery while soaking in the hot springs. In the cold winter, it is recommended to warm yourself up from the core of your body and mind in the hot springs.

StargazingWinter

In Suo-Oshima, far from the city lights, the night sky shines charmingly. Surrounded by the clear winter air and beautiful sea, you can enjoy the constellations with the naked eye. Star Beach, where you can look at the night sky along with a small yellow lighthouse shaped like a star, is a popular stargazing spot.

Japanese Hawaii Emigrants Museum

This facility is named after the deep relationship between Hawaii and Suo-Oshima, with over 5,000 residents having emigrated there since the Edo period. There are exhibits of documents and photographs, and the history of migration and exchanges with Hawaii are explained in an easy-to-understand manner.

About 35 minutes by car from our hotel

Details Map

Miyamoto Tsuneichi Memorial Museum

This facility is mainly an exhibition room for materials related to Miyamoto Tsuneichi, a folklorist from Yamaguchi Prefecture, and an experiential learning room. His writings and collected folk tools are on display, and there are records and tools of the real life and culture built by ordinary people.

About 5 minutes by car from our hotel

Map

Hoshino Tetsuro Memorial Museum

This memorial museum exhibits the works and materials of Japan's leading lyricist, Hoshino Tetsuro. The museum is made up of five zones, where you can experience the Hoshino world with your whole body by watching, listening, and singing.

About 5 minutes by car from our hotel

Map

Okikamuro

Okikamuro Island is a small island that is the only one connected to Suo-Oshima by bridge, and many old fishing villages still remain. Fuka Jizo, located in the grounds of Hakusei-ji Temple, is worshiped by islanders, fishermen, and sailors as the guardian deity of the sea.

About 10 minutes by car from our hotel

Map

Himi Great Buddha

The wooden seated statue of Amitabha Buddha (commonly known as the "Himi Great Buddha") enshrined in Saicho-ji Temple is a designated Important Cultural Property by the national government. It is 2.84m tall and is the largest Buddha statue in Yamaguchi Prefecture.

About 35 minutes by car from the hotel

Map

Obiishi Kannon

Located on the middle slope of Mt. Takuyama, Obiishi Kannon is engraved with the words "Namu Amida Butsu". The rock belt-like lines resemble the Iwata belt of a pregnant woman, so it is famous as a Kannon for safe childbirth, and there is a constant stream of people who visit the temple holding Iwata belts. The temple grounds are decorated with cherry blossoms in spring and autumn leaves in autumn.

About 20 minutes by car from the hotel

Map

Iwaya Gongen

In the cave Iwaya on the middle slope of Mt. Takuyama, it is said that if you eat mochi roasted over the fire here, you will be free from illness and disaster that year. In the dark cave where a huge rock is surrounded by large cedar trees, Kokuzo Bosatsu and Sanno Gongen are both enshrined.

About 25 minutes by car from the hotel

Map

Tateiwa

Rising from the coastline, Tateiwa is made of andesite and stands 40m high. It is an important presence for local people, worshipped as the guardian deity of agriculture, called Bato Kannon. Carved by wind and waves, its overwhelming presence and beauty are captivating, and it can be said to be a work of art of nature.

About 10 minutes by car from the hotel

Map

Ganmon

This strange rock has been hollowed out in the middle by erosion by the waves. The "Happiness Prayer Rock", which is a circle around the four strange rocks of Ganmon, Tateiwa, Iwaya Gongen, and Obiishi Kannon, has been said to bring good fortune in marital harmony, family harmony, prosperity of descendants, and long health, and has gained popularity since ancient times.

About 15 minutes by car from the hotel

Map

Monjudo

It is one of the three Manjusri of Japan, along with "Kirido" in Tango Province and "Abe" in Yamato Province. It is called "Monju of Wisdom" and many students visit to pray for success. The large trees such as ginkgo trees towering in the precincts give a sense of history.

About 35 minutes by car from the hotel

Map

Aloha Oyster

One of the indispensable summer specialties is the rock oysters from Suo-Oshima, which can be enjoyed from mid-June to the end of August. At about 10 affiliated stores on the island, you can enjoy delicious dishes such as ajillo, fried oysters, grilled oysters, and clay pot rice.

Mikan Nabe

Mikan Nabe is a hot pot dish where ingredients such as whole grilled mandarins from Suo-Oshima, mandarin rice balls, Seto shellfish, seafood, and local fish balls are simmered with mandarin pepper and green chili peppers. The classic way to finish the meal is with mandarin rice porridge topped with fluffy meringue.

Honey

One of the specialties of Suo-Oshima is the safe, pure domestic raw honey that is painstakingly made. You can also enjoy comparing the different honey flavors and aromas that appear each season, as well as honey sweets such as honey raw ice cream.

Irikosoba Setouchi Ramen

This is a Chinese noodle dish that has been handed down in Suo-Oshima for a long time, and is characterized by the fact that the broth is made from dried sardines caught off the coast of Suo-Oshima, which are known for not being bitter or oily. You can enjoy ramen with the flavors of soy sauce and green onion oil at restaurants on the island.

Kagami platter of cutlass fish

The Suo Seto Tachiuo are carefully caught one by one using trawl fishing or bottom trawl fishing. A dish of a plate full of shiny, silver-plated Tachiuo sashimi is popularly known as "Kagami platter of cutlass fish".

Jinda miso

This miso is made by combining grilled rockfish meat with barley miso, adding citrus fruits such as sudachi, and adjusting the flavor with sake, mirin, and sugar. A specialty dish is "jinda soup," which is served with warm rice topped with jinda miso and green onions and topped with dashi stock or tea.